San Diego Comic-Con International has become the place where the worlds of comics, film, TV and videogames all meet.Now there’s a ticketed conference, held in conjunction with Comic-Con, where the business and creative leaders from comics and media can gather to find ways to build stronger, more successful connections.

The ICv2 Comics and Media Conference, held Wednesday afternoon just before Comic-Con Preview Night, is a ticketed half-day event with programming and networking opportunities that will help expand the growing flow of ideas and commerce between comics and film, TV, and videogames.

Who Should Attend:

Comic publishers

Filmmakers

TV producers

Videogame producers

Licensing professionals

Writers

Artists

Retailers

Librarians and Educators

Time and Place:

The ICv2 Comics and Media Conference will be held at the San Diego Marriott, next to the San Diego Convention Center, on Wednesday afternoon, July 22nd, from 1 to 5 p.m., just before Preview Night at Comic-Con.

How to attend:

Registration for this half day event is $199 for publishers, producers, agents, marketers, and other; $99 for creators, retailers, librarians, and educators.

Keynote Address: Jeph LoebYou'll Believe A Man Can Fly -- The Blending of Comics, Movies, Television and BeyondAward-winning comic, film, and television writer Jeph Loeb will open the afternoon with a unique look at the world of comics and media.

Jeph Loeb is an Emmy and WGA nominated American film and television writer/producer as well as an award-winning comic book writer. He was a producer/writer on the TV series Smallville and Lost, writer of the films Commando and Teen Wolf and Co-Executive Producer/writer on the NBC TV show Heroes from its premiere in 2006.He is currently a writer and Co-Executive Producer on the new NBC series Day One.

A four-time Eisner Award winner and five-time Wizard Fan Awards winner, Jeph's writing, which has appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List, includes Spider-Man, Batman, Superman, The Hulk, Iron Man and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Among his many accolades, Jeph was given the prestigious Jules Verne Award in France for his contributions on Smallville and Heroes. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from St. Edward's University for his work in literature and its positive effect on children.

The Surrogates: A Writer's Debut that Went HollywoodThe Surrogates writer Robert Venditti and Top Shelf Publisher Chris Staros talk about how a debut Top Shelf miniseries turned into a major film starring Bruce Willis (out in September). - Chris Staros, publisher, Top Shelf Productions- Robert Venditti, writer, The Surrogates- Heidi MacDonald, editor/writer, The Beat

When to Say No: The True Adventures of Bone in HollywoodOver three million Bone graphic novels have been sold, but there’s no movie (yet). Bone creator Jeff Smith talks about “When to Say No,” as he relates his character’s path through Hollywood. - Jeff Smith, creator of Bone and RASL

- Heidi MacDonald, editor/writer, The Beat

Comics and Transmedia Storytelling

Movies, TV shows, or videogames can spike interest in the associated comics and graphic novels.But licensed comics and graphic novels can also be valuable in helping launch, revive or sustain interest in properties from other media.With our panel of experts, we look at how comics can be part of an over-all strategy to develop a richer narrative and a longer time horizon for intellectual property.

Over the last ten years, comics have been used as source material for movies, TV shows, and videogames more than at any other time in history, and the trend shows no signs of abating.Everything has changed, from how comic companies are founded to the kinds of comic stories that are getting made into movies.Where are the exciting new comic properties coming from?How are deals getting done now?Our panel of experts talks about the changing world for comic creators, comic publishers, and producers of movies, TV programming, and videogames.

- Matt Hawkins, Top Cow Productions

- Rick Jacobs, Circle of Confusion

- Jeff Katz, American Original

- Mike Mignola, writer, artist, creator of Hellboy

- Joe Nozemack, Oni Press

- Moderator: Tom McLean, writer for Variety, Animation Magazine

For more information on the speakers and panelists at the Conference,click here.

Sign Up for the Conference Newsletter

You can get updates on our conference programming as we add speaker and session information by clicking on this link:

The ICv2 Comics and Media Conference will admit press registered for San Diego Comic-Con, but we have limited seating, so please send your name, e-mail address, and press affiliation to conferences@ICv2.com, to confirm your admission.

Sponsors, Speakers, Suggestions

If you would like to sponsor the conference, have an idea for speakers, or would like to suggest other ways to make this event better, please contact Milton Griepp at MGriepp@ICv2.com.

Sponsors

The ICv2 Comics and Media Conference is sponsored by The Beat and PW Comics Week. ICv2 thanks Publishers Weekly for its sponsorship.

The BeatThe Beat, by Heidi MacDonald, is a news blog of comics culture in which MacDonald delivers her own brand of coverage on the world of comics. Sign up today!

Comic Book ResourcesComic Book Resources is the premier lifestyle and entertainment resource for comic entertainment news, appealing to collectors, publishers, retailers and film makers, covering comics, film, television, video games and more. CBR was recently nominated for an Eisner Award in the category of Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism.

ICv2ICv2 covers the business world of comics and graphic novels, specialty DVDs, tabletop games, and movie and TV licensed products on its Website, ICv2.com, and in its magazine, the ICv2 Insider’s Guide.